Agrarian societies rely on the cultivation of crops for subsistence by using plows hitched to working animals such as oxen. Productivity is doubled when two animals pull the plow in unison. A wooden crosspiece, called a yoke, placed on the necks of the animals, joins them as one. Frequently, a young ox is paired with an older, mature ox to properly guide and train the younger, inexperienced animal.

Jesus makes the astounding statement to His followers that apart from being connected to Him in continuous unity, they cannot experience a harvest of righteousness in their lives. Salvation through faith in Christ birthed God’s holy nature in us by the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. The holy life of Christ that we now possess, develops fully through a continuous yoking of our lives to Christ. He invites us in Matthew 11:28-30 to:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Apart from being connected to Christ and walking by the power of His Holy Spirit, we have no strength or wisdom to find our way out of sin. However, as we come to Christ, the Holy Spirit works powerfully in us to resist temptation, rescuing us from the heavy burden of sin and its devastating consequences.

Will you come to Christ and be yoked to Him? Ask Him to reveal any stones or weeds of sin in your life that would choke out godly fruit production. He will plow the soil of your heart with His love and words, cultivating a rich harvest of goodness.

The old saying goes: “A picture is worth a thousand words.” After giving Ezekiel a prophesy for His people, one too grand to comprehend, God gave a vision to help him understand. Setting Ezekiel in a valley covered in dry bones, the Lord asked him, “Son of man, can these bones live?” Ezekiel responded, “O Sovereign Lord, only You know” (Ezekiel 37:3).

God told Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, saying:

“Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!This is what the Sovereign Lord says, ‘I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life…Then you will know that I am the Lord’” (Ezekiel 37:4-5).

God gave a vivid picture to portray what He would do for His people. Years of rebellion against God left the nation of Israel exiled in Babylon, spiritually lifeless and void of hope. They were like a valley of dry bones. Yet their faithful God would one day restore them. The fulfillment of the prophecy continues to this day:

“I will gather you from the nations and bring you back to your land. I will cleanse you from your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees” (Ezekiel 36:24-27).

Ezekiel prophesied about the grace of God. God breathes His life, His Spirit, into His people. As we seek Him, God moves us to follow His decrees. Having been cleansed at salvation, God will continually cleanse us from all unrighteousness: the sin in our lives that hinders a right relationship with Him. As God delivers us from our sin, we know through personal experience that our God is the LORD and that He alone brings life to our souls.

Ask God to reveal any “dry bone” areas in your life. Then, ask Him to reveal the life that His breath, His Spirit, longs to give you.

Hot summer months usher in the season of swimming pools and beach vacations. Days of rest and relaxation often include water-based destinations, preceded with great anticipation of fun in the sun. Have not most children competed with friends to determine who could hold their breath the longest submerged under water? But fun and games can turn to tragedy quickly. More than three minutes without oxygen will result in the destruction of brain cells. Death from drowning ensues after approximately ten minutes.

Many Christ followers live as though they are holding their breath spiritually, gasping for air as waves of entrenched sin patterns seek to engulf them. When we trusted in Jesus to save us from our sins, God breathed His supernatural life into our spirit. The same Holy Spirit power that raised Christ from the dead also raised us up to live a new, godly life. God deposited within us His Holy Spirit to empower us to grow up into the likeness of Jesus. God not only calls us to holy transformation, but has provided us with the power to accomplish His divine purposes. Striving to conquer sin in our own strength, apart from the Holy Spirit’s empowerment, is like a drowning person trying to save himself.

Jesus said that His words are spirit and life. Just as physical life is maintained through the constant intake of oxygen, our spiritual vitality is dependent upon the intake of Christ’s words. As you humbly come to Jesus, the Holy Spirit will teach you and empower you to obey His words. The outcome is increasing degrees of holy transformation in thoughts, words and deeds. Instead of sinking into a sea of sin, your life will become filled with moral victory laps, like those of a disciplined Olympic swimmer.

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

John 14:26

Though plugged in overnight, the message on the cell phone screen indicated a low battery. Initially, I assumed something was wrong with the phone. A further look revealed the true problem: the phone’s charger was not fully plugged into the electrical outlet.

The battery charger is the means by which electric current, wired to flow out of an outlet, is directed into our phone. If the connection is faulty, the electric current cannot flow. Likewise, we were designed to live connected to the Source of our power. Plugged into God, His power-filled life flows directly into us. Disconnected from Him, we receive none of it. In fact, the moment we disconnect we begin to lose any “charge” we had received.

Jesus stated this truth through another illustration:

“I am the Vine: you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

God is our only source of divine power. Through constant communion and connection, His divine nature flows through us. We can receive His thoughts, His wisdom, His love and compassion. Consider what God says to you:

I’ve given you My divine power to supply everything you need to live a godly life. You obtain it as you come to Me, develop an intimate relationship with Me and seek to stay connected to Me. I’ve given you many great promises. If you believe them, you will participate in my divine nature. You will escape the corruption caused by the evil desires you experience when you live apart from Me (paraphrased from 2 Peter 1:3-4).

Do you believe that if you remain in God you will bear much fruit? Do you believe that apart from Him you can do nothing of eternal significance? How we live bears witness to what we truly believe. Many people profess faith in Christ, but don’t seek the intimacy and connection necessary to remain in Him. If that’s the case with you, we invite you to humble yourself before God, speaking the very words said to Jesus by a man in the first century:

“Lord, I believe; help me overcome my unbelief” (Mark 9:24).

Homes, whether large or small, are an essential part of life, providing comfort and safety for their occupants. The landscape of England is dotted with large family estates, often inherited by multiple generations. The contents of these grand homes give vivid glimpses into family histories. Over time, many owners of these vast mansions have been forced to sell their properties because of exorbitant maintenance costs.

Children of God have inherited a lavish dwelling place and a permanent inheritance in the person of Jesus Christ. When we trust in Christ as our Savior, we are transferred out of the slum dwelling of self and sin and into the riches of Jesus. The cost of our new home is without money or price. The lease on this house is free throughout eternity for those who will abide in it, humbly communing with its Master.

The residents of this immeasurable estate discover its vastness as they obey the words of the Landlord.  God continues to reveal and share larger rooms, filled with the beauty of His holy character to those who seek His presence continuously, cherishing Christ’s words of love. That selfless love perfumes the air, breathed into each room by the Builder Himself.

Sometimes the way into the upper levels of this house, where the view is brighter and clearer, is through the darkness of a hidden staircase. When the way seems unsure and frightening, our footsteps climb higher, secured by the Holy Spirit’s love and power. As the storms and troubles of life bear down upon us, we are safe and strong, flourishing in the house of our God.

Others will see our deeds and joy in our Master, causing them to relinquish their temporary, self- built houses and choose to live with us, in Christ.

Where are you currently living? Come to Jesus and abide permanently in Him.

“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Psalm 23:4